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The extraordinary performances, recording, and lyrics of James Marshall Hendrix have made him impossible to forget. This American rock music guitarist made a legendary mark not only in the history of rock 'n' roll but also on the pop culture as a whole (Ross 32). With unique techniques never seen before and blatant sex-related performances on stage, he became one of the most influential music figures of the 60 s (Kamin). Hendrix was not born into stardom nor was it given to him by any means. He strived all throughout his life to be the very best. Johnny Allen Hendrix was born on November 27, 1942 in Seattle, Washington to Al and Lucille Hendrix, and not until four years later did his father change his son's name to James Marshall Hendrix.
He certainly did not lead an easy life with his sporadic schooling and his parents' divorce in 1958. Added to the building pressures, his mother died just one year later ("Jimi", Rolling 42). Hendrix purchased his first guitar in 1958, probably to relieve tensions as it was the same year his parents divorced. It was a used acoustic for which he paid only five dollars. At the age of seventeen with only one year's playing experience, he joined his first band, the Rocking Kings. It may be hard to imagine because of his image, but Hendrix was also in the Army for a brief period of time.
He was soon discharged as a result of "medical unsuitability" after a parachuting accident in which he landed on his ankle ("Jimi", Rolling 42). He ventured back to his hometown of Seattle and began playing with Bobby Taylor and the Vancouver's (Wolters, "Pre-Experience"). He seized the opportunity to go on the road after being discovered by Little Richard in 1963 but soon regretted the decision because he felt the tour was degrading, and he was constrained as being a sideman to Richard. His guitar was used as little more than a background rhythm instrument, but Hendrix developed his playing talent and soon discovered how to gain control and take lead of the music. Unfortunately, he never was able to get Richard to realize his talents, so he abandoned Richard's tour in St.
Louis (Wolters, "Pre-Experience"). After aimlessly wandering for awhile, Hendrix found himself in Atlanta and once again teamed up with Little Richard. The tour brought them to Los Angeles where he then went in his own direction. He hooked up with Richard for a third time during the summer of 1964 to record an album in which he again felt confined as being only a backup to Little Richard (Wolters, "Pre-Experience"). Hendrix later joined the budding musician Arthur Lee, but the partnership did not last long as he once again set out in search of his own identity (Wolters, "Pre-Experience"). He embarked as a traveling musician for various tours backing such artists as Ike and Tina Turner, Muddy Waters, Elmore James, B.
B. King, Chuck Berry, King Curtis, Solomon Burke, Chuck Jackson, Jackie Wilson, and several others (Wolters, "Hendrix"). On his next endeavor, he teamed up with saxophonist Lonnie Youngblood. The pair was short-lived as Hendrix soon split, and his adventurous spirit ended him up in New York where he rented a small, cheap apartment and drifted from job to dead-end job (Wolters, "Pre-Experience"). The spring of 1964 brought better luck to Hendrix. Ronnie Isley of the Isley Brothers hired him on the spot as lead guitarist after hearing him play for only a short amount of time.
He lived with the group for a few months, and they actually purchased him his first Fender guitar ("Jimi, Rolling 44). The band toured in 1964 and also released some albums, but Hendrix was still dissatisfied with his situation. He grew tired of the group and left the Isley's to join Curtis Knight and the Squires (Wolters, "Pre-Experience"). Not long had the group been playing in the New Jersey area when Keith Richard, guitarist for the Rolling Stones, caught a glimpse of the stand-out guitarist and wanted to help the young, developing musician. He brought Hendrix to the attention of important music industry people ("Jimi", Facts 425).
On October 15, 1965, Hendrix signed his first recording contract with Ed Chain and PPX Productions in which he was paid a single dollar and promised one percent royalty on all future record sales (Wolters, "Pre-Experience"). Surprisingly, he only released five albums while he was alive. They include, in order, Are You Experienced? , Axis: Bold As Love, Electric Ladyland, Band of Gypsy's, and Cry of Love (Wolters, "Discography"). He formed his dynamic rock band on October 12, 1966 and called it the Jimi Hendrix Experience, a name that will never be forgotten. The peculiar spelling of his name was of his manager's invention. In the group, Hendrix jammed on lead guitar; Noel Redding played bass, and Mitch Mitchell played drums (Wilmer 19).
The trio was comprised of three very different personalities, but Hendrix led them in their eccentric hair and dress styles, wild stage behavior, and most of all, the unprecedented music the group delivered to their public (Kamin). It seemed as if Hendrix, in all his radiance, actually stimulated the other members of the group when they played on stage together (Wilmer 20). He created sounds new to the rock 'n' roll scene which included wah-wah, feedback, phasing, fuzz tone, distortion, and other effects. Hendrix also assimilated different styles of music such as hard rock, jazz, R & B, blues, funk, and pop to form music with a new twist (O'Connor 56). He played the guitar with his hands, feet, legs, and mouth which was definitely chaotic but also full of expression, emotion, and not to mention eroticism (For natale 21). His music helped rock 'n' roll become a part of growing up in the 60 s generation, even though the Experience was often criticized for getting too violent on stage by destroying instruments during performances (Archer 96; Wilmer 20).
Their first album reached the public in July 1967. It was a bigger hit in England than in America but spent many weeks on the charts in both countries. The album was certified platinum, and the popularity of the band sky-rocketed. Tours were rapidly booked, and the Experience ended up playing on 108 dates in 1967 alone (Wolters, "Discography"). Along with the gift of fame came humility as Hendrix's life became an open book publicized by tabloids and media. Nevertheless, the band played on ("Jimi", Rolling 44).
On June 18, 1967 the Experience performed at the Monterey Pop Festival in California. Hendrix and the other members received an exceptional welcome home to America after the grueling nine-month tour in England. Over 50, 000 members of the hippie subculture were in attendance at the sold-out concert. Hendrix stunned the entire audience with his amazing guitar-burning finale. He set fire to his most prized possession, his Fender Stratocaster, as a heartfelt thanksgiving to his devoted fans ("Jimi", Rolling 44 - 45). Hendrix proved his legendary talent at the amazing concert and earned the name "acid king of the guitar" (Daniel 967).
The release of the group's...
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Research essay sample on Jimi Hendrix Rock n Roll Legend
